BUNCRANA 5k: Brilliant new course record for Tanui

Wednesaday night saw a brilliant new Buncrana 5k course record from Project Africa athlete, Dan Tanui, who smashed the 14m 18s set by fellow Kenyan Freddy Sittuk, with a terrific 13m 57s, as the top seven finishers broke 15 minutes on a beautiful night for road racing in the North Donegal town.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th May 2016, 09:19 BST
Updated 26th May 2016, 11:28 BST
Kenyan Dan Tanui (right) winner of the 13th annual Buncrana 5k on Wednesday evening last with his fellow countryman Eric Koech who took second place. DER2116GS011Kenyan Dan Tanui (right) winner of the 13th annual Buncrana 5k on Wednesday evening last with his fellow countryman Eric Koech who took second place. DER2116GS011
Kenyan Dan Tanui (right) winner of the 13th annual Buncrana 5k on Wednesday evening last with his fellow countryman Eric Koech who took second place. DER2116GS011

The in-form Tanui won the Inishowen Half Martahon in Buncrana a few weeks ago but showed much more on the fast 5K course on his return, stunning the opposition and the large crowd of cheering spectators with a spectacular performance.

Eric Koegh ran 14m 33s for the runners up spot, just ahead of a competitive group of local athletes fronted by Foyle Valley’s Scott Rankin on 14m 37s, Letterkenny’s Danny Mooney (14m 38s), Finn Valley’s M35 Barry Harron (14m 41s), Letterkenny’s M40 Ciaran Doherty (14m 43s) and Connor Bradley of promoting club City of Derry Spartans on 14m 55s.

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The defending women’s champion, Natasha Adams of Letterkenny, topped the podium again with a sparkling 16m 29s from the Spartans Catherine Whoriskey’s 17m 19s - both faster than their 2015 clockings - while Acorn’s Natalie Hall posted 18m 35s to snatch third ahead of Foyle Valley F45 Martina McMullan’s 18m 41s.

Letterkenny Athletic Clubs Natasha Adams on her way to winning the womens race at the 13th annual Buncrana 5k on Wednesday evening last. DER2116GS016Letterkenny Athletic Clubs Natasha Adams on her way to winning the womens race at the 13th annual Buncrana 5k on Wednesday evening last. DER2116GS016
Letterkenny Athletic Clubs Natasha Adams on her way to winning the womens race at the 13th annual Buncrana 5k on Wednesday evening last. DER2116GS016

The winning teams of 4 to score were Letterkenny in the mens’ race and Foyle Valley in ther womens’.

On aggregate times the Letterkenny quartet of Danny Mooney, Ciaran Doherty, Pauric Breslin and Ivan Toner had just 25 seconds to spare over the Spartans squad of Connor Bradley, Gary Slevin, Dermot McElhinney and Kyle Doherty with Foyle Valley’s Scott Rankin, Keith Shields, Johnny Canning and Connor McDevitt edging Finn Valley for third.

Martina McMullan, Gemma McGinty, Grainne Neill and Deirdre Quigg boosted Foyle Valley to a comfortable win from the Spartan’s Catherine Whoriskey, Shelagh Murray, Janeen Leese and Briege Canavan and the Inishowen quartet of Sarah Marie Doherty, Sheila Doherty. Aileen Doherty and Siobhan McLaughlin.

Related topics:Buncrana